Daniel 10

²In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

Was mourning - Because he foresaw the many calamities that would befall the Jews for their sins, especially for destroying the Messiah, and rejecting his gospel.

⁴And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

The first month - Nisan, which is March. Hiddekel - Or Tigris.

⁵Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

A certain man - Very probably Christ, who appeared to Daniel in royal and priestly robes, and in so great brightness and majesty.

¹²Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

He - Not Christ, but Gabriel.

¹³But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Withstood me - God suffered the wicked counsels of Cambyses to take place awhile; but Daniel by his prayers, and the angel by his power, overcame him at last: and this very thing laid a foundation of the ruin of the Persian monarchies. Michael - Michael here is commonly supposed to mean Christ. I remained - To counter-work their designs against the people of God.

¹⁵And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

I set my face - I prostrated myself upon the earth. And I became dumb - Thro’ astonishment.

¹⁶And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

One like the sons of men - This likewise seems to have been Gabriel. I have retained no strength - Tho’ he appeared to him, and spake to him as a man, yet Daniel could not bear his presence, without some dread.

²⁰Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

To fight - To oppose his mischievous designs.

²¹But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

Michael - Christ alone is the protector of his church, when all the princes of the earth desert or oppose it.